Maldives

The Maldives carry an Indian Ocean maritime culture of boat building, lacquerwork and coconut crafts.

Building & habitat Crafts Music & dance Food & cooking Textile & dress

Knowledge in this place

Dhoni boat building

Dhoni boat building

Hand-built wooden sailing and fishing boats shaped without formal blueprints.

Building & habitat

Liyelaa jehun lacquerwork

Liyelaa jehun lacquerwork

Lathe-turned wooden vessels coated in coloured lacquer and incised with patterns.

Bodu beru drumming

Bodu beru drumming

Big-drum music and dance with East African roots, building to fast, trance-like rhythms.

Dried tuna cuisine

Dried tuna cuisine

Smoked and dried skipjack tuna used as the backbone of curries and breakfast dishes.

Thundu kunaa mat weaving

Thundu kunaa mat weaving

Mats woven from dyed local reeds with geometric island motifs.

Textile & dress